(UPDATE) ‘She really does care’: Peace River North MLA weighs in on new B.C. Conservative leader

Updated June 2nd, 12:45 p.m.: This article has been updated to include a statement from Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy said he was “ecstatic” at the announcement of the new leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. 

Former federal member of parliament (MP) Kerry-Lynne Findlay was announced as the next leader of the B.C. Conservatives on May 30th. 

Findlay’s victory comes after months of campaigning, which saw several other candidates, including Caroline Elliott, Peter Milobar, Yuri Fulmer and Iain Black throw their names in the running for the position. 

By the time the votes were counted, Findlay had narrowly defeated Elliot with a 51 to 49 per cent victory. 

Jordan Kealy, independent MLA for Peace River North, was present at election night in Vancouver. 

“I was ecstatic,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on being at the conservative convention. I had just lost water to my farm three days earlier, so I was on my way home and my flight got cancelled.”

“Kerry wanted me to be in her VIP section at the convention, and when they announced that she had won, she wanted me up on the stage with her and all the other MLAs,” Kealy said. “I was thrilled, I think that she’ll make an excellent leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., as well as possibly the next premier of the province.” 

Kealy described Findlay as “honest and genuine” and praised her experience

“She’s got a track record that proves that she’s conservative and that she follows through with what she tries to accomplish,” he said. “When we look at her record of being with the federal conservative party, it just shows how much she’s done.” 

On April 2nd, Kealy announced his endorsement of Findlay, calling her the “right person for the job” in a Facebook post. 

Kealy, who has sat as an independent MLA since leaving the party in March 2025 after former conservative MLA Dallas Brodie was removed from the party, said he has an upcoming meeting with Findlay to discuss rejoining the party.

“I’ve got a meeting with her later on this week to discuss that,” he said. “I think it was pretty clear when she wants me up on that stage with the rest of the MLAs of that party, she made it very clear she wants me back in that party too.”

Kealy said once he gets his membership back, he can be welcomed back into the caucus. 

Larry Neufeld, MLA for Peace River South, said the party needs to come together and focus on defeating the NDP government.

Neufeld offered some insight to residents of Peace river south.

“My message to the people of Peace river south would be that I am working very diligently toward getting recognition for Peace river south and the needs of the area and the needs of the wider Peace region,” he said.

“I’ll continue to be a loud voice within the caucus and within the party to ensure that happens, that we do get the recognition and the respect that we deserve,” Neufeld said.

According to Neufeld, some of the needs include the Taylor Bridge and investments in infrastructure, transportation, mental health and health services and education services.